Hope Restored
Cassandra's Smile Transformation
Written by Andrew Sedler / July 16, 2025
Every once in a while, we are lucky to
be part of transformative experiences
that go beyond basic dental care.
Cassandra, a survivor of sex trafficking, endured years of trauma that affected her emotional well-being and her physical appearance, especially her smile. Working with Dr. Elona Gaball, Burbank Dental Lab played a vital role in restoring Cassandra’s smile, giving her renewed hope and confidence. This case highlights the importance of compassion in dentistry and demonstrates how comprehensive dental rehabilitation can profoundly change a patient’s life.
Cassandra, 36 years old, has endured unimaginable hardship, having been trafficked since she was 16. Her journey started with sexual abuse in her family and worsened into a 17-year struggle with drug addiction and trafficking.
Years of neglect, abuse, substance use, smoking, and alcohol took a severe toll on her health, including her smile. Fortunately, Cassandra was rescued on August 1, 2020, and began her journey towards recovery. Cassandra met Dr. Elona Gaball in 2020 through the Alabaster Jar Project, a San Diego-based residential rehabilitation center dedicated to supporting trafficking survivors.
The beginning steps of Cassandra’s journey focused on addressing her basic health needs and restoring her oral health. This included:
Cassandra’s journey was complex due to the condition of her teeth and jaw. The before photos that we have were taken after the orthodontic treatment, and while they show significant improvement, her condition was much worse initially. Unfortunately, true before photos are unavailable. Cassandra also suffered from a jaw fracture due to abuse, which led to a crossbite to the right and chronic jaw pain, further complicating her treatment.
To restore Cassandra’s smile, it was decided to use IPS e.max restorations for the maxillary teeth (5-12) and the mandibular teeth (21-28). Valplast partials were used to address posterior edentulism on both arches.
Using Layered IPS e.max for Cassandra’s maxillary teeth provided several benefits:
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Valplast partials were used to treat Cassandra’s edentulism in the mandible. The benefits of Valplast include:
The Smiles By Design team at Burbank Dental Lab consists of highly skilled technicians who are required to complete hundreds of hours of advanced continuing education.
The fabrication process at Burbank Dental Lab involved close collaboration with Dr. Elona Gaball to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and precision.
The treatment steps included:
Under Dr. Gaball’s guidance, emax restorations on teeth 5-12 and 21-28 were designed. The shade OM3 was selected for the gingival and body areas, with OM2 chosen for the incisal third. The prepared shade was ST9. Photographs were provided to assist the Smiles By Design team.
Dr. Gaball requested a layered emax to craft a natural-looking smile for Cassandra. The restorations were sent to Dr. Gaball for placement.
By utilizing advanced materials and technology, Burbank Dental Lab was able to create restorations that fulfilled Cassandra’s functional and aesthetic needs, ultimately transforming her smile and aiding her overall healing process. Cassandra was very grateful for her new smile.
“I had 3 years sober yesterday.
But the best gift is being able
to smile when I’m with my family.
Thank you for making that possible for me.”
By utilizing advanced materials and technology, Burbank Dental Lab was able to create restorations that fulfilled Cassandra’s functional and aesthetic needs, ultimately transforming her smile and aiding her overall healing process. Cassandra was very grateful for her new smile.
Dr. Elona Gaball has been working with trafficking survivors since 2018. She collaborates with several organizations, including the Alabaster Jar Project, Refuge for Women, Generate Hope, and Run to B Free, a home for girls under 18 years old in Orange County.
In an effort to expand her reach and help even more individuals, Dr. Gaball founded her own nonprofit, Inspire Changes 501(c)(3), dedicated to smile rehabilitation for trafficking survivors and women who have experienced sexual abuse and domestic violence.
2018-2023: 187 individuals supported,
with services valued at $311,063.
2024: 54 individuals supported,
providing services worth $121,868.
To support this important cause, donations can be made directly to Inspire Changes, or you can contact Dr. Elona Gaball at (858) 925-3142 to learn more and discuss opportunities to expand their impactful work.
Inspire Changes 501(c)(3) directs 100% of your donation to providing free smile makeovers for our local sisters who need a small seed of hope on their journey to healing. Your contribution to our independent nonprofit 501(c)3 is tax-deductible, and funds are solely used for the actual costs of delivering this free dental care.
Every person who receives care through Inspire Changes deserves to feel worthy, loved, and empowered to fulfill their divine purpose. This initiative provides a gentle refuge of empathy, compassion, and grace—helping survivors rise from the ashes to reclaim their beautiful lives with dignity. Through life-changing smile transformations that would otherwise be out of reach, Inspire Changes creates a sanctuary of love in a hardened world.
If you want to make a donation by check,
please make your check payable to:
Inspire Changes
530 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite A
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Cassandra’s case highlights the transformative power of comprehensive dental care and the importance of compassion in dentistry. Through teamwork, skill, and the use of advanced dental materials like IPS e.max and Valplast, Cassandra’s smile was restored, giving her a renewed sense of hope and confidence.
Burbank Dental Lab is thankful to have been part
of this smile transformation, and we sincerely thank Dr. Elona Gaball for providing the case
notes and photos for this case study.
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